[1] Considered to be young and charismatic, and the namesake of his popular father, in 1896 a number of political actors began to court Harrison as a potential mayoral candidate for 1897.

[1] Harrison's potential candidacy began to accrue the backing of political players of the Chicago Democratic Party scene.

Chief among these was Robert Emmett "Bobby" Burke, who abandoned his initial support for the candidacy of Superior Court of Cook County judge John Barton Payne in order to back Harrison.

[1] John Barton Payne was broadly-liked, but did not arouse strong enthusiasm, and was criticized by some Democrats for his tepid support of William Jennings Bryan's presidential candidacy.

[1] Payne ultimately abandoned his plans to run after being discouraged by the greatly enthusiastic response which Harrison received for his opening speech at the January 8, 1897 Jackson Day Celebration.

[1] Trude, whose long political service had been admired by John Peter Altgeld, unsuccessfully sought Atgeld's endorsement.

[1] Reformists voiced alarm that the Democratic slate included William Loeffler as its City Clerk nominee.

[1] Hesing advocated for civil service reform, an end to machine politics, traction law revision, and the use of vacant lots by the poor for the purposes of growing beans and vegetables.

[1] However, very late in the campaign, Hesing did receive a lukewarm statement of support signed by a number of prominent gold standard-supporting Democrats.

[1] The second-place finish by Municipal Voters League reformer John Maynard Halran evidenced the strength of the independent pro-reform vote in Chicago.